November 18th, 2022 at 5:00 pm 
by Ron Cervenka The writing was on the wall. After two consecutive well below-average seasons offensively, 27-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year (2017), former NL MVP (2019), two-time All-Star (2017, 2019), former Gold Glove Award winner (2019), former Silver Slugger Award winner (2019), and longtime huge fan-favorite, Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger was non-tendered a contract by Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, thus making the Scottsdale, AZ native and Dodgers fourth-round draft pick in 2013 out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ a free agent for the first time in his (now) six-year MLB career.
The announcement came shortly after 3 PM PT of Friday afternoon on social Media (Twitter), prior to the 5 PM PT MLB deadline.
After his Rookie of the Year-winning 2017 season during which he slashed .267/.353/.581/.933 with 39 home runs and 97 RBI, and his NL MVP-winning 2019 season during which he slashed .305/.406/.629/.1.035 with 47 home runs and 115 RBI, Bellinger fell on extremely hard times offensively, especially during his injury-plagued 2021 and 2022 seasons, when he slashed a very un-Bellinger-like .165/.240/.302/.542 and .210/.265/.389/.654 respectively, with a combined 29 home runs and 104 RBI over those two seasons.
That said, and as every Dodgers and Cody Bellinger fan knows, (and there are many), his defense has been of Hall of Fame quality; hence those two All-Star appearances, that Gold Glove, and that NL MVP thing.
Having covered Belli when he was with the (then) Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the highly competitive California League, I got to know he and his mom Jennifer rather well, and consider both as friends. And while this is never a good practice in the sports media business, I would be lying if I were to say that this one doesn’t sting a bit more personally than most Dodgers roster moves.
(Ron Cervenka)
There is zero doubt in my mind that Cody will ‘find it’ again when he signs with another team, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if that happens in a matter of days.
Godspeed to you, my friend. Thanks for many great memories.
…and for those mammoth Belli Bombs!
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
I think the dodgers will sign and or trade for an outfielder and a SS.
Plus a starting pitcher.
Any specific OF, SS, pitcher?
I will not be shocked to see Cody in CF for Dodgers on opening day 2023. Boras can market Cody throughout MLB, but he could swing back to the Dodgers if other teams are unwilling to pay his price. The odds say Bellinger will playing elsewhere next season, but” Baseball is a Funny Game” (Joe Garagiola)
This from Andrew Friedman:
“I wouldn’t necessarily say this is the closing of the chapter of Cody and the Dodgers. We still very much believe in the talent of Cody and his competitive makeup, and we have interest in a reunion and will continue talks with Cody and his group. And he gets to discuss this on his end.”
He’s going to the hated Giants!
I think the Giants make a perfect fit for Bellinger and they have the payroll wherewithal to make him a 2 year offer that the Dodgers might not match. But there will be several teams interested in his CF defense. The Yankees would benefit from having Cody in CF and moving Judge to RF. The Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago Cubs could use Bellinger as well.
Dodgers have about 100 million to spend. SS CF SP.
Free Agent SP
Degrom injury prone, too expensive.
Verlander Expensive Not a great Post Season record.
Rodon Great when on the mound.
Bassett Solid Innings eater.Career 3.4 era and 15th in era plus in the last 3 yrs. 33 yrs old probably gets 3 yr 60 mil type deal.
Andrew Heaney solid 5th starter to mix in with the multiple arms from triple A Oklahoma.
Analysis
If Dustin May can be on the mound for the innings T Anderson gave us I think he could put up similar numbers around 2.5 era. If that happens and Urias CK and Gonsolin are solid then we could go 5th and 6th starter by committee.
My thinking is go with Heaney and make your big move around the trade deadline.
Does your $100M include or exclude Trevor Bauer’s contract? I think Bauer’s contract has created a problem for Andrew Friedman’s 2023 roster planning. Hypothetically, Bauer’s suspension is reduced and Dodgers will pay him $32M in 2023 whether he is on the roster or not. The Dodgers are facing a 50% competitive balance tax for every payroll dollar (AAV) above $233M ($20M above and team pays $10M in tax). The Dodgers may be motivated to stay below or at $233M in 2023 to reset the CBT for 2024 and beyond. What does that scenario do to your roster tweaking? Are you OK with Taylor/Thompson/Outman platooning in CF; Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch platooning in LF so the team can pay Trea Turner and Trevor Bauer?
I think we are at 180 with Bauer.
Do you think he will ever pitch for the Dodgers.? Additionally couldn’t the Dodgers nullify his contract on Morals clause? Just settle for 5 mil and his free agency.?
Without Bauer I think the payroll is around 150 mil.
I don’t know if the dodgers would reset that drastic in one yr. But trea turner and the kids isn’t a bad way to start plus the trade deadline to add whatever we need
Correct, Fangraphs has Dodgers current payroll at ~$150M without Bauer. But that doesn’t include Kershaw ($20M?). If they have to pay Bauer, then payroll is $200M.
The Bauer saga could continue for years. If he wins in arbitration the Dodgers will have three choices: pay and play him, release him and pay him, or attempt to get out of the contract by claiming Bauer violated the agreeemt. Bauer may ultimately sue MLB and Dodgers.
We fans do not have the facts, but I think it is possible that the Dodgers will pay and play Bauer (depending on the facts). Wife beaters have been disciplined MUCH less severely.
Ahh yes … the pride of the Santa Clarita Valley.
#sigh
My Cousin Doug lives in Santa Clarita
Ditto for my sister-in-law, her husband, their kids, and grandkids
Been living out here since 1985 and absolutely LOVE it. We even have FOUR In-N-Outs!!!